Cannabis

What is it?

Cannabis sativa, also known as the hemp plant, has been cultivated for centuries for industrial and medical use, and for its "psychoactive," or mind-altering, effects. Marijuana, hashish and hashish oil all derive from the cannabis plant. Street names: marijuana (grass, weed, pot, dope, ganja and others), hashish (hash), hash oil (weed oil, honey oil)

More than sixty-one chemicals, called cannabinoids, have been identified as specific to the cannabis plant. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid, and is most responsible for the "high" associated with marijuana smoke.

Hemp grown for industrial use has very low levels of THC. Hemp fibers are used to make rope, fabric and paper. Hemp seeds are high in protein and yield oil with nutritional and industrial value.

Many claims about the medical uses of marijuana have not been scientifically proven; however, research has shown that THC and other pure cannabinoids can relieve nausea and vomiting and stimulate appetite. This can help people who have AIDS or who take drugs used to treat cancer. Further research is needed to establish the medical value of marijuana in relieving pain, reducing muscle spasms and controlling some types of epileptic seizure.

Where does cannabis come from?

Cannabis is native to tropical and temperate climates, but is cultivated around the world. Modern illicit growing operations use sophisticated methods to produce high potency marijuana.

What does cannabis look like?

Marijuana is the dried flower buds and leaves of the cannabis plant. It ranges in color from grayish green to greenish brown and may contain seeds and stems. Hashish is the dried, compressed resin of cannabis flower tops. It ranges in color from brown to black, and is sold in chunks. Hash oil is made by boiling cannabis flower tops or resin in an organic solvent, which produces a sticky reddish-brown or green substance. The THC content of each variety of cannabis varies, although hash is generally more potent than marijuana, and hash oil is usually the most potent form. Marijuana, hash or hash oil are sometimes mixed with tobacco, and are most often rolled into a cigarette called a joint, or smoked in a pipe. Cannabis is sometimes cooked in foods, such as brownies, or made into a drink.

How does cannabis make you feel?

How cannabis affects you depends on:

how much you use

how often and how long you've used it

whether you smoke it or swallow it

your mood, your expectations and the environment you're in

your age

whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions

whether you've taken any alcohol or other drugs (illicit, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

When people first try cannabis, they often feel no psychoactive effect. With repeated use, however, these effects are felt. People can have very different experiences with cannabis. Some may feel relaxed, lively, talkative and giggly, while others feel tense, anxious, fearful and confused. What's more, the kind of high a person has can vary from one drug-taking episode to another. People who are familiar with the drug learn to stop when they've had enough, and have more control of the effects, than do people who are new to the drug.

At low doses, cannabis mildly distorts perception and the senses. People who use the drug say that it makes music sound better, colors appear brighter and moments seem longer. They say that it enhances taste, touch and smell and makes them feel more aware of their body. Some enjoy these effects, but others find them uncomfortable.

Smoking larger amounts may intensify some of the desired effects but is also more likely to produce an unpleasant reaction. Too high a dose may result in feelings of losing control, confusion, agitation, paranoia and panic. Pseudohallucinations (seeing things such as pattern and color that you know are not real) or true hallucinations (where you lose touch with reality) can occur.

The physical effects of cannabis include red eyes, dry mouth and throat, irritated respiratory system (from smoking) and bronchodilation (expansion of breathing passages). Appetite and heart rate increase, while blood pressure, balance and stability decrease. Cannabis may cause drowsiness or restlessness, depending on the amount taken and individual response to the drug.

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Marijuana Facts

Marijuana decreases the body's ability to fight diseases. People who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of breathing problems that cigarette smokers have including coughing and wheezing. They tend to have more chest colds than nonusers. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia.

Marijuana use can also lower sperm counts, possibly resulting in difficulty having children. Females who use marijuana, over time, increase their levels of testosterone which can result in increased facial hair and acne. It may also adversely affect reproductive functioning in women.

THC in marijuana is strongly absorbed by fatty tissues in various organs. Generally, traces (metabolites) of THC can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. However, in heavy chronic users, traces can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.

Sometimes marijuana makes users feel thirsty and very hungry, an effect called "the munchies." Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception.

Even occasional users of alcohol and marijuana may experience negative consequences – such as the risks that come with lowered inhibitions, short-term memory problems, and coordination difficulties. And both alcohol and marijuana are thought to contribute to (or intensify) mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

There is no simple profile of a typical marijuana user. It has been used for 1000's of years for medical, social, and religious reasons and for relaxation. Several of our Presidents are believed to have smoked it. One out of every five Americans say they have tried it. And it is still popular among artists, writers, musicians, activists, lawyers, inventors, working people, etc.

For some people, sex is an anxiety-producing proposition, so they use pot to relax. Others use weed to heighten sensitivity. The fact is that heavy, long-term marijuana use can either cause or contribute to low motivation and sex drive. Long-term use of marijuana can also affect sexual health. Marijuana has an effect on the production of testosterone and other hormones, which in turn can cause decreased sperm count, erectile dysfunction, and problems with menstruation.